Bella Nipotina joins $20m club with brilliant win in Russell Balding Stakes at Rosehill

The Everest winner Bella Nipotina only has Winx in front of her as she soared past $20m in earnings with a stunning win in the Russell Balding Stakes at Rosehill.

Just when we thought Bella Nipotina couldn’t get any better, the iron lady of Australia’s sprint ranks raised the bar again.

The Ciaron Maher-trained mare gave her rivals a lesson with a stellar sprinting performance to win the $3m Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Just two weeks after Bella Nipotina defied the odds when she was stuck three-wide the trip in an amazing $20 m The Everest win, the daughter of Pride Of Dubai delivered another virtuoso performance.

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Her latest triumph included $2m in bonuses for completing The Everest-Russell Balding Stakes double as well as winning Sydney’s sprint series.

The golden spring has thrust her into second on Australia’s all-time prizemoney earnings list with $22,536,624 earned.

Only the incomparable Winx has made more money for connections, winning $26,451,175 in prizemoney during her storeyed career.

With more racing in front of her, it stands within reason that Bella Nipotina could eclipse that mark in the next 12 months.

Craig Williams sports some fancy goggles in Bella Nipotina’s easy win in the Russell Balding Stakes at Rosehil. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Bella Nipotina was greeted with a hero’s welcome when she returned to the winner’s stall.

“What a horse she is,” Maher’s stable representative Johann Gerard-Dubord

“She’s just an absolute marvel. She just loves racing.

“When you think you’ve seen everything with her, there’s more to come.”

Bella Nipotina looked the winner a long way from home.

Star jockey Craig Williams had Bella Nipotina ominously poised in behind a hot tempo set by I Am Me and Coal Crusher.

She had levelled up to the leaders inside the 250m mark and was quick to shake off the challengers.

Bella Nipotina ($2.50 favourite) motored away to score by a length-and-three-quarters lengths from the Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained Sunshine In Paris ($4.40), who surged home from near last.

Neasham and Archibald’s Lady Laguna ($18) was a further length-and-a-quarter back in third.

Bella Nipotina cruises past them in the Russell Balding Stakes - and she's now the second-highest stakes earner in Australian racing 🙌@cmaherracing | @CWilliamsJockey | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/GACAQXF2Oq

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 2, 2024

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“They went quick today, she just travelled, just got there so easily and when she quickened she was just different class today,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“I think she just keeps getting better. The more she races, the better she is. She’s just full of confidence, just loving life right now.”

Williams has forged an amazing partnership with Bella Nipotina in recent times.

The pair combined to win the same race last year and have tasted Group 1 success together as well as capturing The Everest.

“Fortunately for me I’ve been the jockey the last 2½ years and got to know her really well and had an amazing journey with her, and Wow,” Williams said.

“It’s amazing how we can get her some days and she’s like ‘no, it’s my way’. Today it was just the easy way.

“And even the other day, I just said to her ‘you’ve climbed the biggest mountain by winning The Everest, and now to show everyone that’s come out today to support you, I’m sorry girl but you’ve got to keep doing it’. And she just delivers.”

"It's been amazing"@CWilliamsJockey has been on a wonderful adventure with Bella Nipotina, and here are his thoughts on her Russell Balding Stakes win today!@cmaherracing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/bDKKLlTmdk

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 2, 2024

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The most impressive element of Bella Nipotina’s stellar twelve months has been her ability to travel and perform.

She has raced in four states this year with 13 starts across the country.

“She loves travelling, more than anyone else,” Gerard-Dubord said.

“She’s travelled more than me the last couple of years.

“But she’s got a great bunch of owners. Obviously they’ve had a lot of fun with her. And the fact she keeps doing it, I think that’s the impressive part.”

Gerard-Dubord said it would be unlikely for Bella Nipotina to back up in next week’s Champions Sprint as the sprinter had done last year.

Meanwhile, Tommy Berry thought Sunshine In Paris ran well in defeat but was beaten by the gate.

“She went terrific. The barrier has probably put us a pair further back than we wanted to be.”

Lady Laguna’s jockey Tyler Schiller praised the mare’s consistency while Nash Rawiller thought fourth placegetter Mazu might be ready for a break.

Originally published as Bella Nipotina joins $20m club with brilliant win in Russell Balding Stakes at Rosehill